Summary: Hayden continues his journey into the Underground Base for Amanda. Can Hayden defeat Darius and be able to rescue her? Or will his efforts go to waste and die trying?
A/N: Oh the suspense! It's about to get better folk's, trust me. Hayden has a rather long arc dedicated to him. Enjoy!
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Hayden knew this was a trap as soon as he stepped through the portal.
And he wasn't to surprise to find that he was right.
Omega Ranger and Terrorsaurus stood side-by-side with Darius behind them. All three had their swords – and claws – at the ready and Hayden raised his dagger. Yesterday, Hayden may have been worried about the odds, considering one of the greatest Swordsman – and magic users – stood before him, but today was different. Today, he was not fighting for his own safety, but for the safety and the future of his beloved girlfriend Amanda.
That was his fuel and the blade that shimmered a yellow-gold was his will. Hayden smiled beneath his mask and beckoned.
They were all to happy to oblige.
Omega moved forward first with a thrust to the chest. A quick, elegant parrying swung the blade of his head and well placed boot-to-the-knee sent him to the ground. Twisting to his side, the pair of white claw's slashed down his back and Hayden launched an elbow hard into the Terrorsaurus' chest. Turning once more, his blade circled and pushed Omega's blade out to the right and quick snap kick to the arm sent the sword flipping into the air and stabbed into the cement several feet away.
Darius stood stone faced, watching as Hayden walked through his guards. "Useless bunch of rabble." Darius thought, holding his crooked hilt close to his stomach. "It's so hard to find good help these days." Darius lowered the blade to his side and narrowed his eyes. Hayden continued to make a mockery of his "Finest" guards, hacking and slashing at the two of them with long, elegant strokes of his dagger-sword. He watched as Omega flipped from the blow and crashed into the ground like a weight. Without missing a beat, Hayden dispatched Terrorsaurus with a swift roundhouse to the jaw. "Must I always do thing's myself?"
Darius held out his hand and blue-white lightning cackled at his finger tips and lit the small room up with a blue glow. Hayden gripped the blade with both hands as the lightning snapped and crackled around the alloy. Soon, Hayden's arms began to spark and the dagger turned a faint red-white color.
As quick as it began, the bolts of lightning reseeded into Darius' hands again and the Wise Old Wizard withdrew his blade again. "I see that this battle can not be won with a contest of our powers." He said and raised the blade to his ready stance. "But by our knowledge of the blade."
Hayden said nothing in reply and only raised his blade in return. For a moment, the two warriors stood before each other in an abnormal show of respect and then moved in a flash. Darius swung high and met Hayden's blade with a shower of golden sparks. Quickly they parted, stepping inward with a back to back-to-back twirl and locked blades low. The room was illuminated with a soft flash of yellow and red as the blades slashed, sliced, cut, stabbed, parried, riposted, countered and every other meaningful sword maneuver.
Neither could gain ground; gain an advantage over each other. It was like they were one in the same, two opposite pieces of a single being. Their movements were perfect and accurate; every thrust aiming for an organ, every slash intended to kill. Each thrust and each slash was met with a block and riposted or countered.
Darius broke apart from the lock and slashed towards Hayden's exposed right arm and as the Ranger moved to intercept, Darius quickly cut the blade back around in a slice intended to gut him. To his surprise – and horror – Hayden had…expected the move and stabbed low, blocking the attack. Eyes met black visor and the hatred cackled between them. Darius didn't need to see Hayden's eyes for truth, he could feel the anger radiating off him like heat waves. Yes, that's what he was, a volcano over flowing with hot magma. Every inch of his body shook with uncontrolled rage; rage that only fueled his will.
Darius sighed inwardly and broke apart into a backward spin. He had expected Hayden to do the same and was caught completely off guard as the Naganata raced in to great his face. Darius whirled his blade before him, striking the extended staff and surged forward with renewed vigor. As he cut for Hayden's side, the staff burned and shrank into the dagger and steel met steel again.
"Blasted! Why can't I hit him?" Darius seethed, panting hard as their arms shook from strain and exhaustion. "Why is this so hard?"
When Hayden drew Darius closer, the Malicious One was able to see his eyes for the first time. They spoke of hatred…no, no it went beyond hatred now. It was now to the point of uncontrollable lust for death, for blood. In this one moment, as Darius peered into Hayden's sharp blue eyes through the visor, he realized something.
This battle was already over.
Sure, Darius was a competent swordsman, and a very skilled magician, but like all creatures, age eventually take's effect. Darius was 500 hundred standard years to Hayden's 21 and the only thing that truly kept him alive was his sheer, raw power. But even the power he wielded would not be able to withstand the young man's youth.
So Darius did the only thing he could.
Their blades dislodged and he took a step back. "You win, Ranger." Darius announced, lowering his blade. "I can't beat you." He waved a hand in the air, a cackling blue-white portal appearing at Hayden's side. "Through that portal you can find the girl. Take her and leave."
"What!" Hayden said sharply, raising the Naganata, aiming it his throat. "What make's you think I'm going to let you live?"
Darius arched a white eyebrow and smiled. "Your freedom, of course. How else do you plan to get out of here unless I create the portal for you?" Hayden's blade lowered and Darius' smiled widened fractionally. "Go, retrieve the girl…head to the end of the hall afterward. You will find a portal waiting for you to take you home."
Hayden gave Darius one last glare and then raised his blade again. "Next time, old man, you die…" He said and was sucked into the portal. Darius smiled and let his blade fall slightly. The portal vanished and his smile turned into a hateful sneer.
"Trust me, Power Ranger; I'm looking forward to seeing you try." Darius snapped and was sucked into a portal of his own…
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Hayden demorphed and raced through the halls of the prison block. "AMANDA!" He shouted, head snapping side to side as he ran forward. "ANTON! CAN YOU HEAR ME!"
"HAYDEN!"
He came to a stop and looked behind him. It came from off to the left. "ANTON, IS THAT YOU!"
"YES, WHERE ARE YOU!"
Anton suddenly shrieked as Hayden rounded the corner right into the cage. He was about to say something until he realized his eyes were fixated on someone else. He glanced over his shoulder to see Amanda smiling; her lower lip quivering as tears spilled down her face.
The door to Hayden's left popped open and Hayden rushed into the cell, right into Amanda's arms.
"Oh my god, Amanda…" He cried, hugging her as tight as he dared. "Amanda…i-it's really you."
He could feel her petite body shake in his arms and her tears flow freely from her raw eyes. They dampened his shoulder, but he didn't care. He could have cared less if this was hell and he was locked in here for eternity. He had his Amanda and nothing else mattered.
"Oh, Hayden…" She cried, clutching his shirt in a vice grip as she pulled him closer. "I'm s-so sorry…"
Hayden pulled back a bit and cupped her gorgeous face in his hands. He was crying now to, so excited, so happy to see her again. "Amanda, you have nothing to apologize for…" He said, his own lips quivering. "You're still s-so beautiful…"
Even now, after all these years, he could still make her blush. And for the first time, in six long, harsh years, their lips met in a deep, passionate kiss. To them, it felt like they were standing in the middle of heaven. After six years their love for each other faltered nor vanished. To Hayden, it seemed to deepen, instead. His moist lips met her dry one's, but he didn't care. Even now, they still stated as sweet as freshly picked strawberries. They tasted so…good.
A cough parted them and they looked over at Anton. Each of them turned a scarlet red to see the fatherly disapproving look on his face.
"You may only take the girl." The wall's echoed and Hayden glared at them.
"I'm taking the both of them with me." He hissed in return and narrowed his eyes. He knew there was a trick to this…it was never this easy.
"I could easily have all three of you executed, you know." The walls remarked and suddenly it grew rather cold. "Your Ranger powers will protect you from the intense cold…but your precious little wench and the scientist be able to survive it?"
Hayden hissed and opened his mouth to reply but Anton laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Hayden, go." He said with a soft smile. "Even if you were to take me, they only send an army to recapture me. Take your girlfriend and go, Hayden…I feel my time in this world has reached it's conclusion."
Hayden's eyes seemed to disapprove with the statements. "Anton, no, you're coming with me. You're returning home to see your son again…"
Anton shook his head and returned Hayden to face him. "Hayden, please…my place is here for now. Whatever fate has decided for me, so be it. If I can give up my life to know that I've made a difference…then so be it." He shoved Hayden back and turned away. He had to hide the tears that were threatening to spill. "Now go, Hayden…" He choked out, balling his fists. "His offer may not stand for long."
Amanda clutched Hayden's arm as she looked up at him and then back to Anton. "I will never forget this noble sacrifice, Anton Mercer." He said and bowed low and respectfully. Amanda followed her boyfriend and bowed as well. "I will return to rescue you…I promise."
"Go!" Anton snapped, glaring over his shoulder.
Hayden and Amanda looked at each for a long moment and then dashed out of the room. Anton let out a long, deep breath, turned to the bench and sat down. He had made a difference in this world, finally. Two lovers were reunited and now…they would be able to live their lives to the fullest. He closed his eyes, rested his head against the wall and accepted fate with open arms.
He was ready for anything now…
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Darius watched with a satisfied smile on his face as Hayden and Amanda vanished through the waiting portal. The swirling image flickered away and Darius leaned back in his kingly throne, intertwining his fingers. Today was a good day…right now, he didn't care about the fact Omega and Terrorsaurus lost, he still had Anton Mercer and now…he had a new plan.
"Omega." He said sternly, a smile creeping across his lips. Yes, this was a good plan…
"Master?" He said and bowed low, not wanting to get zapped.
"Omega, returned the Senox Potion." Darius commanded, his smile growing wider. "I think it's time we said hello to a long forgotten friend."
Omega glanced over his shoulder at Terrorsaurus and the mighty beast only shook his head. Omega looked up at Darius and then bowed his head to the floor. "Yes, Master." He said obediently and turned away.
Darius could only smile, staring off into his own world. Yes…today was a very good day indeed…
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A/N: FHEW! It's finally finished! Chapter 8, Prt 2 of Gold's Revenge. Don't worry folks, Hayden's arch is not yet finished. There is still much more to come. Will it involve this Senox Potion Darius spoke of? Just what is he planning? Oh, don't the question's just eat you alive? God being a writer is awesome…it's the only legal and legitimate way to torture people without prison time. Ah…life is good.
May the Powers Protect You.